Building having a skeleton frame

ABSTRACT

The skeleton frame of a building consists essentially of identical frame elements fastened to each other to form a system of parallelepiped-shaped cells, each cell being bounded by four frame elements which are at least in part common to two contiguously juxtaposed cells. The cells may be freely cantilevered from upright pillars or freely span distances between pillars which are multiples of the horizontal dimension of one cell.

United States Patent [151 3,696,574 Dietrich [45] Oct. 10, 1972 [54]BUILDING HAVING A SKELETON 2,444,091 6/1948 Carlsen ..52/732 FRAME2,891,397 6/1959 l-lauer ..52/637 2,970,676 2/ l 961 Maciunas ..52/732[72] fi f' g gg Adalbemr- 8 3,357,727 12/1967 Finkenstein et a1 ..287/54A 1 "many 3,466,823 9/1969 Dowling ..52/637 22 F d: N 19, 1969 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS N l 1 pp 629,188 1/1963 Belgium ..52/280 778,5422/1968 Canada ..5Z/79 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 619,5821/1927 France ..52/236 No 22, 1968 Germany "P 18 10 4342 1,064,3976/1955 France ..52/236 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott [52] U.S. Cl...52/236, 52/79, 52/168, Assistant Examiner beslie A. Bram] 52/173,52/220, 52/280, 52/505, 52/637, Anomey Kelman and Barman 287/54 A 57ABSTRACT 51 Int. Cl ..E04b 5/48, E040 1/39, E04C 3/32, I 1

504 3 40 1 1, 3 04 The skeleton frame of a building consists essentiallyof [58] Field 61 Search ..52/236, 505, 637, 648, 65], identical frameelements fastened to each other 52,239 50 3 2 0 79 732. 2 7 1 9 3 form asystem of parallelepiped-shaped cells, each cell A 54 A being bounded byfour frame elements which are at least in part common to twocontiguously juxtaposed [56] References Cited cells. The cells may befreely cantilevered from upright pillars or freely span distancesbetween pillars UNITED STATES PATENTS which are multiples of thehorizontal dimension of one 11. 1,347,808 7/1920 Franklin ..287/54 A cc2,037,889 4/1936 Doud ..52/732 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEBum10 0912 SHEET 1 BF 5 INVENTOR w 0/8 M BY.( y

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E m [I INVENTOR R fcl a rd, Df 'f 6 BY M nimum AGE/v75 BUILDING HAVING ASKELETON FRAME This invention relates to building construction, andparticularly to a building having a load-bearing skeleton frame.

In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with a buildingskeleton or frame which may be assembled from identical, prefabricatedframe elements at the construction site, and is rigid enough to permitthe frame to be cantilevered from upright pillars or to span relativelywide open spaces. Yet, the frame elements must be light enough to betransported on ordinary road vehicles and railroad cars, and should becapable of being erected at the building site without scaffolding.

The building of the invention thus includes at least one upright pillarand a skeleton frame fastened to the pillar. The frame essentiallyconsists of substantially identical frame elements and of fastenerswhich fasten the frame elements to each other. The frame elementsconstitute contiguously juxtaposed, parallelepipedshaped cells. Eachcell is bounded by four frame elements having each two upright sidesfastened by the fasteners to upright sides of respective other frameelements bounding the cell, two horizontally extending sides definingthe top and bottom of the cell, and four corner portions more rigid thanthe sides and connecting the two ends of each upright side to acorrespondin g end of a horizontally extending side.

The frame freely projects from the pillar in a horizontal direction overa distance at least equal to the length of one of the horizontallyextending sides. Floor plates are supported by the horizontallyextending sides of the cells and spaced apart approximately by thelength of an upright frame element side so that each frame element hasthe same height as one floor of the building.

The sides of the frame may be formed, at least in part, by correspondingside members which are integrally connected to constitute a cornerportion of the frame, the greater rigidity of the corner portion beingachieved by one of the frame members increasing in cross section towardthe corner portion, which preferably is arcuate in shape.

The frame elements are rigid enough under most conditions not to requireinternal reinforcements so that the four sides jointly bound anunobstructed central aperture in the frame element.

The element may be assembled from several circumferential sections bymeans of connecting elements approximately centered in respective sidesof the frame element and releasably connecting the sections.

Other features, additional objects, and many of the attendant advantagesof this invention will readily become apparent from the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention whenconsidered in connection with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective and partly exploded partial view of a buildingincluding a skeleton frame of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a frame junction in the building of FIG. 1 in partlydisassembled condition and in a perspective view;

FIG. 2A shows the device of FIG. 2 in section on the line [IA-IIA on alarger scale;

FIG. 3 shows two superimposed upright frame elements of the building ofFIG. 1 in perspective view;

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified frame junction in a view corresponding tothat of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows the skeleton frame of the building of FIG. 1 in frontelevation on a smaller scale; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view of the skeleton frame of FIG. 5 taken onthe line VI-Vl.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 to 3,there is seen a three-dimensional skeleton frame assembled fromsubstantially identical, upright, rectangular frame elements 1 whosethickness is but a very small fraction of their length and height, theheight being slightly smaller than the length and corresponding to theheight of one floor of the building in which the assembled frameelements I constitute the load-bearing elements. The upright columns ofthe skeleton are constituted in each floor by two to four upright sidesof respective frame elements 1, and the horizontal beams of the skeletonby normally two horizontal sides of respective frame elements 1. Thefour arcuate comers of each frame element 1 are en larged to make themmore rigid than the upright and horizontal sides of the frames. Theframe elements are fixedly, but releasably fastened to each other, aswill presently be described in more detail. The connected frame elements1 form a skeleton frame mainly consisting of identical cells having eachthe shape of a right parallelepiped.

The building further includes filler elements set into the frameelements I to close the openings of the same such as floor plates 2whose surfaces 3 may form the ceiling of a lower building portion, andupright wall panels 4, S. If so desired, false ceilings 6 may besuspended from the floor plates 2.

Where less than four upright sides of respective frame elements I arejoined to each other to form an upright column, or where reinforcementis otherwise needed, the joined upright frame sides are strengthened bybars 18, and reinforcing angles 17 may be provided at the junctions ofseveral frame element corners if needed. Similar horizontal bars 18 maybe fastened on the horizontally extending sides of frame elements on theoutside of the building to complete there the nessecary cross section ofthe skeleton beams.

The frame elements I are prefabricated and dimensioned fortransportation from a manufacturing plant to a construction site ontrucks or railroad cars of normal size. They are interchangeable and maybe used again in other skeleton frames if they were originally installedin a temporary building.

The preferred material of construction for the frame elements 1 issteel, and the four sides of each frame element are each T-shaped incross section. The web portion 7 of the four frame sides in each element1 are located in a common plane, and the flange portions 8 are parallelto the axis of the central frame aperture and bound the aperture.

The frame elements are connected with each other by means of spaced,flat lugs 9 laterally projecting in both directions from the web portion7 of each horizontal frame side, and lugs 10 projecting in only onelateral direction from the upright frame sides, the lugs 9, 10 beingspacedly parallel to the associated flange portions 8.

When the contiguously juxtaposed sides of respective frame elements 1are connected by means of their superimposed lugs 9, lo, the connectionsare located substantially in the neutral zone of the beam or column soassembled, and are subjected only to relatively weak stresses. They aretherefore adequately connected by bolts passing through bores 11 in thelugs and equipped with nuts, the conventional bolts and nuts not beingexplicitly shown. Notches 12 are formed in the web portions 7 betweenthe lugs 9, to reduce the weight of the frame elements 1.

Each frame element 1 may be an assembly of four L- shaped sections 13,and the four sections may be shipped from the manufacturing plantseparately to occupy a minimum of space and assembled at theconstruction site. The four sections 13 are joined to each other in thecenter of each frame side which is subjected to relatively minor staticstresses in the finished building. Terminal integral flanges 14 on eachsection 13 are engaged face-to-face in the assembled frame element andconnected to each other by means of non-illustrated bolts in matingopenings of the flanges 14. Flat, apertured plates 15 having twice thesize of the faces on the flanges 14 may be interposed between respectivepairs of flanges 14 on two juxtaposed frame elements 1 to connect theelements, as is evident from F I08. 2 and 3. The bending or torsionstresses decrease towards the center of the columns and beams in normalservice. lt is therefore permissible gradually to reduce the width ofthe cross-section of the columns consisting of the upright sides of theconnected frame elements, from the frame corner toward the transverseflange 14, the width of the flange portion 8 remaining constant forconvenience of assembly. If desired, the weight of each frame element 1may be reduced without loss of necessary strength by decreasing thethickness of each flange portion 8 from the corner of the frame element1 toward the transverse flange 14.

As is best seen in FIG. 2, the lugs 9 on the horizontal frame sides arearranged in closely spaced pairs, and the notches 12 separate adjacentpairs from each other. Pairs of wedges 19 having twice the thickness ofthe lugs 9 are introduced into the gaps between paired, superimposedlugs during assembly of the skeleton frame. When the wedges are drivenhome in the gaps, they cause precise alignment of the superimposed lugs9, and may be left in position thereafter as partly shown in FIG. 2.

The lugs 10 on the upright frame sides have recesses 16 which jointlybound two passages at right angles to each other in a column assembledfrom four frame elements 1 in the manner best seen in FIG. 2A. Wedges 19are driven into the passages for aligning the frame elements and assistin holding the elements in their relative positions after assembly byabsorbing shearing stresses.

The two vertically superposed frame elements seen in FIG. 3 differ fromeach other and from other frame elements described so far in that theupper frame element consists of two L-shaped circumferential sections 13and another unitary, U-shaped section constituting one half of the frameand connected to the L-shaped sections 13 by flanges l4 and portions ofapertured plates 15. The lower frame element is a unitary structure inits entirety. The frame elements shown in FIG. 3 are interchangeable inthe assembled skeleton frame with the four-section frame elements morespecifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The heaviest stresses in the assembled frame elements 1 occur in thecomers whose web portions are enlarged so as not to be deformed asmentioned before, angle pieces 17 may be superimposed on the web portion7 further to increase the rigidity of the frame corner. As has not beenshown explicitly in the drawing, reinforcements may also be provided inthe corner areas to double the thickness of the flange portion 8 in amanner analogous to the strengthening of the web portion 7 by an anglepiece 17.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified structure of the invention wherein eachrectangular frame element is formed from four U-shaped sections,hereinafter referred to as U-channels, the open side of each channelfacing outwardly and away from the central frame aperture. The frameelements are assembled in the skeleton in spaced relationship, the opensides of the channels facing each other at a distance substantiallycorresponding to the height of one channel. The frame elements arejoined to each other by connectors 21. Each connector 21 consists ofthree steel tubes or hollow bars 22 of square cross section which arewelded to bisect each other at right angles. The arms of thethree-dimensional cross constituted by the steel tubes or bars 22 areinterposed between the sides of the frame elements at the frame corners.The spacedly juxtaposed frame elements are additionally connected bybox-shaped apertured spacers 23 and bolts engaging the apertures 26 inthe spacers and apertures 25 in lugs 24 welded to each channel 20 partlyto close the open side near each end of the channel. The flanges of thechannels 20 have notches 27 adjacent the lugs 24 for access of tools tonuts or heads on bolts passing through the apertures 26, 25 of thespacers 23 and of the lugs 24. Similar lugs, not themselves visible inthe drawing, cover the open side of each channel near the end of theassociated steel tube 22 for a bolted connection with the tube.Additional notches 27 in the channel flanges give access to theconnecting bolts. corrugations 28 on the outer faces of the tubes 22engage mating recesses of corresponding corrugations in the edges of thechannels 20 to provide greater shearing strength to the assembled bundleof frame sides and connecting element parts which constitutes eachcolumn and beam of the skeleton frame.

In a manner analogous to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,the flange portions of the channels 20 increase in height from themiddle of each upright frame side toward the corners, thus making thecorners most rigid. The width of the channel web remains constantthroughout the length of the channel. The flange height in thehorizontal frame sides is uniform. But may also be decreased toward thecenter of each side, that is, toward the free end of the horizontal legin each L-shaped sections 20.

In addition to the upright frame elements constituted by the L-shapedsections 20, the building skeleton partly illustrated in FIG. 4 alsoincludes horizontal frame elements 29 attached to the vertical faces ofthe tubes or hollow bars 22 which extend horizontally from the weldedjunction with other tubes.

Each tube 22 and spacer 23 jointly do not extend over the entire lengthof the associated leg of an L- shaped section 20. The gap 30, the spacerand the tube may receive electrical or water lines, an emergency watersystem for fire fighting purposes, or additional structural members forreinforcing the skeleton. Such reinforcement, where needed, may also beprovided by the use of two contiguously superimposed frame elementsinstead of a single element as partly shown in FIG. 4. This arrangementis of particular advantage in buildings intended for use with unevenlydistributed loads. The skeleton frame of the entire building is made offrame elements adequate for areas of light loading when used singly, anddouble framing is resorted to where unusually heavy loads have to besupported. This still permits the entire building frame to be erectedfrom identical and interchangeable frame elements, while avoiding theuse of unnecessarily heavy framing in areas of the building not intendedfor heavy loading.

As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connected frame elements of theinvention may span large spaces without intermediate supports and may becantilevered freely. The principal upright load bearing structures ofthe partly illustrated skeleton frame for a building according to theinvention are two pillars 31, 32. The conventionally constructed steelpillar 31 has a height of five floors. The other pillar 32 is a singlecell of frame elements of the invention. The exposed edge portions ofthe framework are reinforced by means of angle pieces 17 andstrengthening bars 18 as described above, and connected with the frameelements in such a manner that at least all upright columns of theskeleton consist of bundles of metal elements. The angle pieces 17 andbars 18 are connected with the frame elements by means of bolts, notshown.

The invidivudal cells 33 of the main building portion are arranged in apattern of steps forming terraces on one outer face of the building.Interior spaces extend partly over more than one floor and have a freespan greater than the horizontal length of one cell, the cells formingthe ceilings of such interior spaces being freely cantilevered. Theapertures of a few frame elements are closed by upright plates 34, andhorizontal plates 35 close the apertures of cells formed by the fourupright frame elements forming the cell for even greater rigidity of theskeleton in areas of exceptionally high stress. A similar function isperformed by centrally apertured horizontal frames 36 and diagonalstruts 37. However, such extraneous reinforcing devices are not normallyrequired.

As is evident from FIGS. 5 and 6, the same frame elements of theinvention may be employed for erecting the skeletons of single-floorbuildings, of towers, of buildings straddling a free space, of buildingsstanding on steep slopes, and the like.

it is a particular advantage of buildings based on the skeleton framesof the invention that they lend themselves to the solution of a problemcommon in urban renewal. They permit the gradual replacement of oldbuildings as they become vacant by small units which may be enlargedreadily by the addition of cells as adjacent spaces become available.Where an old building remains standing temporarily between two skeletonframe buildings of the invention, the two frames may be connected abovethe old structure by a bridge of cells, and the new structure growupward from the broader base so formed. Ultimately, the old structuremay be demolished and the open gap in the new structure filled withadditional cells as may be needed.

The frame elements of the invention may be built as unitary structuresor in a few parts, L- or U-shaped, and the frame elements are handledquickly and conveniently at the construction site without requiringfacilities other than a crane. There is no need for scaffolding.

Because of the releaseable bolt connections between the frame elements,a skeleton frame of the invention can be modified, enlarged, or reducedin size at any time during the life of the building if equipped withsimilarly mounted wall, floor, and ceiling elements.

What is claimed is:

l. A building comprising, in combination:

a. an upright pillar;

b. a skeleton frame fastened to said pillar, said frame essentiallyconsisting of a plurality of substantially identical frame elements andfastening means fastening said frame elements to each other,

i. said frame elements constituting a plurality of contiguouslyjuxtaposed, parallelepiped-shaped cells,

. each cell being bounded by four frame elements having each two uprightsides fastened by said fastening means to upright sides of respectiveother frame elements bounding said cell, two horizontally extendingsides defining the top and bottom of said cell, and four corner portionsmore rigid than said sides and connecting the two ends of each uprightside to a corresponding end of a horizontally extending side,

3. said frame freely projecting from said pillar in a horizontaldirection over a distance at least equal to the length of one of saidhorizontally extending sides; and

c. a plurality of floor plate members supported by horizontallyextending sides of said cells and spaced apart substantially by thelength of said upright sides.

2. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein each frame element has anupright side member and a horizontally extending side member, saidmembers constituting respective portions of the corresponding sides andbeing integrally connected to constitute one of said corner portions,the cross section of one of said members increasing toward said cornerportion.

3. A building as set forth in claim 2, wherein said corner portion isare uate.

4. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein the four sides of eachframe element jointly bound an unobstructed central aperture in saidframe element.

5. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said elements isconstituted by at least two circumferential sections, and connectingmeans approximately centered in respective sides of said frame elementand releasably connecting said sections to each other.

6. A building as set forth in claim 5, wherein said connecting meansinclude respective integral, terminal flanges on said sections andsecuring means securing said flanges to each other in face-to-facerelationship.

7. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fastening meansinclude a plurality of connectors, each connector including a pluralityof bar members fixedly fastened to each other in rectangularlyintersecting relationship, two of said bar members being releasablyfastened to sides of respective frame elements in one of said cells.

8. A building as set forth in claim 7, wherein said fastening meansfurther include a plurality of bolts respectively securing said barmembers to said sides of the frame elements.

9. A building as set forth in claim 7, wherein said two bar members andthe releasably fastened sides of said frame elements are formed withrespective interengaged projections and recesses.

10. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sides of each frameelement are substantially T-shaped in cross section so as each to have aflange portion and a web portion, said flange portions bounding acentral aperture in the frame element, and the flange elements beinglocated substantially in a common plane.

ll. A building as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a pluralityof lugs on each web portion, each lug being spaced from the associatedflange portion and substantially parallel thereto, the lugs ofjuxtaposed frame elements being contiguously superimposed on each other,and securing means securing the superimposed lugs to each other.

12. A building as set forth in claim 11, wherein said lugs are formedwith respective alignable apertures,

and said securing means include a wedge member simultaneously engagingthe apertures of the superimposed lugs.

13. A building as set forth in claim 10, wherein columns consisting ofthe upright sides of the connected frame elements decrease in crosssection from the comer portion of the frame elements toward the centerof their upright side, the flange portion of said upright side being ofuniform cross section over the length of said upright side.

14. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upright andhorizontally extending sides of another one of said frame elements aredirectly superimposed on the upright and horizontally extending sidesrespectively of one of said four frame elements.

15. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said four frameelements partly bounds two of said cells.

16. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of thecells are provided with frame elements mounted to the horizontallyextending sides defining the top and bottom of said cells.

* 1i i t i

1. A building comprising, in combination: a. an upright pillar; b. askeleton frame fastened to said pillar, said frame essentiallyconsisting of a plurality of substantially identical frame elements andfastening means fastening said frame elements to each other,
 1. saidframe elements constituting a plurality of contiguously juxtaposed,parallelepiped-shaped cells,
 2. each cell being bounded by four frameelements having each two upright sides fastened by said fastening meansto upright sides of respective other frame elements bounding said cell,two horizontally extending sides defining the top and bottom of saidcell, and four corner portions more rigid than said sides and connectingthe two ends of each upright side to a corresponding end of ahorizontally extending side,
 3. said frame freely projecting from saidpillar in a horizontal direction over a distance at least equal to thelength of one of said horizontally extending sides; and c. a pluralityof floor plate members supported by horizontally extending sides of saidcells and spaced apart substantially by the length of said uprightsides.
 2. each cell being bounded by four frame elements having each twoupright sides fastened by said fastening means to upright sides ofrespective other frame elements bounding said cell, two horizontallyextending sides defining the top and bottom of said cell, and fourcorner portions more rigid than said sides and connecting the two endsof each upright side to a corresponding end of a horizontally extendingside,
 2. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein each frame elementhas an upright side member and a horizontally extending sidE member,said members constituting respective portions of the corresponding sidesand being integrally connected to constitute one of said cornerportions, the cross section of one of said members increasing towardsaid corner portion.
 3. A building as set forth in claim 2, wherein saidcorner portion is arcuate.
 3. said frame freely projecting from saidpillar in a horizontal direction over a distance at least equal to thelength of one of said horizontally extending sides; and c. a pluralityof floor plate members supported by horizontally extending sides of saidcells and spaced apart substantially by the length of said uprightsides.
 4. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein the four sides ofeach frame element jointly bound an unobstructed central aperture insaid frame element.
 5. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein eachof said elements is constituted by at least two circumferentialsections, and connecting means approximately centered in respectivesides of said frame element and releasably connecting said sections toeach other.
 6. A building as set forth in claim 5, wherein saidconnecting means include respective integral, terminal flanges on saidsections and securing means securing said flanges to each other inface-to-face relationship.
 7. A building as set forth in claim 1,wherein said fastening means include a plurality of connectors, eachconnector including a plurality of bar members fixedly fastened to eachother in rectangularly intersecting relationship, two of said barmembers being releasably fastened to sides of respective frame elementsin one of said cells.
 8. A building as set forth in claim 7, whereinsaid fastening means further include a plurality of bolts respectivelysecuring said bar members to said sides of the frame elements.
 9. Abuilding as set forth in claim 7, wherein said two bar members and thereleasably fastened sides of said frame elements are formed withrespective interengaged projections and recesses.
 10. A building as setforth in claim 1, wherein said sides of each frame element aresubstantially T-shaped in cross section so as each to have a flangeportion and a web portion, said flange portions bounding a centralaperture in the frame element, and the flange elements being locatedsubstantially in a common plane.
 11. A building as set forth in claim10, further comprising a plurality of lugs on each web portion, each lugbeing spaced from the associated flange portion and substantiallyparallel thereto, the lugs of juxtaposed frame elements beingcontiguously superimposed on each other, and securing means securing thesuperimposed lugs to each other.
 12. A building as set forth in claim11, wherein said lugs are formed with respective alignable apertures,and said securing means include a wedge member simultaneously engagingthe apertures of the superimposed lugs.
 13. A building as set forth inclaim 10, wherein columns consisting of the upright sides of theconnected frame elements decrease in cross section from the cornerportion of the frame elements toward the center of their upright side,the flange portion of said upright side being of uniform cross sectionover the length of said upright side.
 14. A building as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the upright and horizontally extending sides of anotherone of said frame elements are directly superimposed on the upright andhorizontally extending sides respectively of one of said four frameelements.
 15. A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of saidfour frame elements partly bounds two of said cells.
 16. A building asset forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of the cells are providedwith frame elements mounted to the horizontally extending sides definingthe top and bottom of said cells.